Forester

A very intelligent and balanced post.

I agree. I have written before about the difference between being a supporter and a customer. We have too many with the mindset of the latter on here. Don't get me wrong, I want to win big time and it's why we travel all over the country to support the team. But backing people to learn from mistakes and improve seems to be a thing of the last for some. Key words in any fair summary are: VVD, Austin, Pelle, Mane and Wanyama

Anyone trying to compare that performance with the Hull one is being hugely unfair. We were the better team in the first half than and Arsenal team with much to play for, and should have been ahead bar a good bit of goalkeeping from Cech. Second half we had lots of good attacking moves, with two outstanding crosses from Bertrand in particular, but the confidence in front of goal is very low. Sanchez really was the difference with two great bits of quality, the first his goal and the second his wonderful cross for the first header. That is why he could move for £70 million. For the rest of the twenty one players there wasn't much in it. I thought Bertrand was outstanding and Gabby worked his socks off. As others have commented we need a player who has much greater off the ball movement to get in and around Gabby as Mane did with whoever he played with last year. I left the ground feeling it was a cruel result. A very long journey Saturday and hoping to be rewarded with goals which hopefully is the start of a good week to close the season out. Three poor results though and things will be very negative heading into the summer.

Good shout on N'Dong. A bit like Guye who was relegated at Villa in a poor team but has been excellent at Everton. I think with us now playing 4231 again we need another real holder alongside Oriel and let Davis play further up

Does someone know how to get the link to the pre-season predictions on her about where we would finish? Would love to see if people's expectations have been met or exceeded with a cup final thrown in too?

When Mourinho does this at Anfield, parking the bus and getting a nil-nil, he is described as a tactical genius. Puel will never get credit in the eyes of some no matter what he does.

Well said

But you have form Saint Benali don't you? Check out your posts in July 2014 when you told everyone we wouldn't maintain Poch 8th position. We didn't... we finished 7th. Then 6th. So you are kind of half glass empty aren't you? Be good for you to clarify whether or not you think 8th and a cup final is a damn good season? Then we can find out in three weeks time how happy you are.

Today's results increase the chances of a top eight finish, four points off eighth place with two games in hand. And a cup final. You must be devastated. Good luck in your home game against Cheltenham later today, hope you enjoy League One next season.

I enjoyed my coach journey back having watched Puel's Saints knock four past Sunderland. In the minds of the knee jerk brigade on here, presumably this immediately rules out the Great Marco Silva......?

It also allows a player or two on the goal line at near or far post. The same reason that Koeman also never left a player upfront. It seems that people are starting to find new ways to oppose Puel. We should impose a fun new rule on this debate which forces folk to include the words "Mane, Pelle, Wanyama, VVD and Austin" in any assessment. Be really interesting to read. Let's go for it for a day....

When they do come up wth that stat, make sure it is net spend recognising the sale of Big Vic, Pelle and Mane. I don't recall any major exit in the summer with MoPo. We signed Big Vic and Lovren

A very fair assessment. In my opinion, what many of the Puel critics like to side step is the fact that we sold Big Vic, Pelle and Mane and we are told that Liverpool are a shadow of themselves without Mane....

Not trying to defend any reputation. I supported the last four managers who did a good job too in very different circumstances. To answer your question re which players have improved, then I would add Redmond, Cedric, VVD, Romeo, Sims and McQueen to your list. There are others that have gone backwards too. That is life. I accept there have been a number of disappointing home performances and, as per Whitey's observation, I recognise that this has a big imprint on people. But SKD's "cup final, so what" argument is nuts. Ask anyone who went to Wembley if they want more days out like that. And we were very close to qualifying again for Europe where I look forward to taking my daughter to more trips like Milan and Prague regardless of the results!

We are three points of 8th with a game in hand. And made a cup final without conceding a goal en route including two wins over Liverpool and a win at Arsenal. If anyone can't see that this would represent a good season having seen Mane, Wanyama and Pelle leave the building they really are never going to be pleased. Like everyone else at the game I was frustrated and disappointed by yesterday's performance. But equally I was proud and thrilled by the performances at Wembley, Sunderland, Arsenal, Liverpool, West Brom, Watford. It's about having some balance. I think Puel has done well in difficult circumstances and I don't get too down by a poor performance. Presumably in the eyes of the Everton bed wetters Koeman has become "clueless" by being stuffed 3-0 at home to Chelsea today? #Bigger Picture

Thanks for agreeing with me

Hull have conceded an average of six goals per game? Is this a prediction of a season to come in fifty years, or have you been smoking something?

So just to summarise, you don't think that Romeo, Yoshida, Cedric, JWP, Sims and Stephens are better players than last year? I think we should call for nurse......

As someone who has only seen almost every game home and away I would say Yoshida now would comfortably fetch £15 million. He is now a proven centre back with pace, strength and an outstanding attitude. Centre backs this good arevas rare as hens teeth these days, and at 28 he is five years younger than Fonte. In other words, Jose was just starting his Premier League career at this age and as many will remember was pretty rocky in our first year up.

Sorry to trouble you old chap, but would you be kind enough to engage with the rest of the argument as well as the cup final? Specifically the Mane but, Europe matches and Chelsea/Liverpool?

I would hope for another good cup run and be in with a shout of Top 6 or 7 if one of the big boys slips up. Some of the crazed posters on here want to have a chin wag with the fans of about thirty other Premier League and former Premier League clubs from West Brom all the way down to Bolton and Sheffield Utd to find out how well we are doing. That includes Leeds, Derby, Blackburn, Forest and Villa who have won the title and in some cases won the European cup in the last few decades.

Spot on. The three teams who finished below us last season that have improved are Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton. None of them have contended with the additional fixtures in Europe, and one of them have cited their best player this year as someone who got goals for us last season. The only team we should feel fed up about finishing below would be West Brom, and I haven't given up hope of us finishing alive them. And where was the cup final delivered by either Koeman or Poch?

We have conceded one goal in three games,while putting three past Sakho and Palace. I would say the wheels aren't coming off....

Interesting point, I thought he was outplayed by Clasie who is a more pleasing on the eye passer of the ball. But I have seen some impressive stats quoted that shows Hoj played a major part. There was much pi** taking when Les said best group of midfielders in the league, and it may have been a bit OTT but when you look at these two behind Romeo, Davis and a much improved JWP it isn't as stupid as some thought.

Great summary